Guest Replies:

1st Guest: Glad to hear it. Thanks so much for your support. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations

2nd Guest: I'm glad you're liking this better so far. I'm assuming that by "crap you usually post" you're referring to the Legend Kids stuff? Hm. Yeah…maybe I overestimated them. See I was dealing with a lot mentally in high school. By the time I got to my senior year I didn't have many friends. I was lonely, depressed, and angry all the time. On top of that my parents split up my Freshman year. And my senior year I had stared coming to terms with my sexuality and my mother's Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which resulted in her being emotionally, mentally, and sometimes physically abusive. The LK were just my way of getting through all of that. They were the friends I felt like I didn't have. They were the positivity that I felt I was lacking. And because of that they became very special too me. I guess I was just hoping that they could be special to someone else too, but if you don't like them that's perfectly fine. You have a right to have your own opinion about them, but I will leave their stories up for anyone who does enjoy them. (Maybe someday I'll even finish them…) Anyway, that's my sob story. Thanks for the review!

0: Same here! (Even though I'm the one writing it haha) Poor thing has a hard road ahead of him. Thanks for the review!

3rd Guest and 1: Thanks for the support!

4th Guest: No worries, I haven't forgotten about JD here! If I ever decide to stop writing it I'll either delete the story or let you guys know in an author's note. (Probably both) thanks for the support!

5th Guest: Lucky you! Today's the day I update! Thanks for the support; I hope you enjoy

As soon as they arrived at the park, Mick took off at a sprint, heading straight for the jungle gym. Allison laughed at his enthusiasm, glad that he seemed to have forgotten about their troubles. At least for now.

"Don't get too far ahead, Mickey," she called after him. "Stay where I can see you!"

He didn't respond, but she knew he'd heard her. She watched for a minute, turning, briefly, to gather her purse. When she turned back, she was met with another woman sitting on the park bench, watching over her own son. Allison smiled politely, as she took a seat next to her, barely sparing her a second glance. She let out a heavy sigh, running her hand through her hair. How did things get to be such a mess?

"Excuse me." The woman spoke so softly that Allison almost missed it. "I don't mean to intrude…but are you alright? You seem a bit overwhelmed…"

"I'm fine," Allison told her without so much as sparing a glance her way. She set her purse down by her feet, smoothing down her pants even though there was nothing on them. "Just tired. You know how exhausting little boys can be." Allison shrugged it off like it was no big deal. This woman didn't need her dumping all her problems on her, after all. Besides, it wasn't exactly something Allison fancied talking about with a stranger either.

"I understand," the woman nodded. "It's just…it seemed like more than just motherhood stresses…"

"I said I'm fine!" Allison snapped. Why wouldn't this woman just drop it already? Allison's life was none of her business! This woman was not her therapist or even her friend, so who was she to just start asking personal questions? Was everyone in the city a nosey bitch?

But Allison immediately grew guilty for having such thoughts, as she took notice of the way the woman flinched as her voice escalated. It was then that Allison finally looked over at the woman, taking in her appearance. She was skinny and frail looking, her bones visible through the skin on her arms and legs. Her hair was a rat's nest, thinning so badly that Allison could see a few bald spots forming. Wistful brown eyes stared back at her, watering to the brim, like maybe she might start crying. Pale pink lips quivered ever so slightly. The poor thing looked so pathetic, it made Allison's heart ache.

"I'm sorry," Allison apologized. "I shouldn't have snapped. That was rude."

The woman shook her head so violently that Allison thought she'd shake it right off her neck. "N-no! No! It was my fault. I shouldn't have been bothering you. Honestly, I'm much too nosey. That's why my husband always has to correct me when we go places." She let out a small, nervous laugh, and Allison was stunned – to say the least – because she recognized it all too well.

It was the laugh she used whenever Dick got too violent. Whenever he was thrown into one of his flashbacks and shoved her a bit too hard down the stairs. That was the laugh she used when she wanted to pretend everything was alright, even though she knew it wasn't. When she wanted everyone else to think it was okay.

"It's fine. Really," Allison insisted, awkwardly pushing a lose strand of hair behind her ear. "It's just…a lot's been going on lately. And it's really personal…"

The woman nodded. "Sometimes it helps to talk about it."

Allison smiled lightly. "I'm just not comfortable discussing personal issues with…" She trailed off, afraid that she'd offend the woman somehow.

"Strangers?" The woman looked back at her with a faint smile of her own. "It's alright. I understand." She paused for a moment, and Allison thought their conversation was over. But then she went on. "But sometimes it's better if you can vent to someone you'll never see again. No attachments. No awkward moments later, you know?"

The woman patted her hands against her knees awkwardly, grinning sheepishly, like she really wanted to help but was afraid Allison would yell at her again. Allison hesitated for a moment, watching as the two boys ran past, charging towards the slide just a few feet away. She sighed; she waited until the two boys had each gone down the slide a total of three times, looking back at the woman who's eyes looked so determined and friendly and fragile, and she relented.

"It's just…my husband," Allison explain, "Richard. He's got that Post Vietnam Syndrome, you know? And there was an accident last night. Long story short, our boy got hurt, and I had to leave, but now I'm not so sure what to do. We've got no where else to go. All of my friends and family are across county, and Dick doesn't have any." She was surprised to hear how sturdy her voice sounded, even if she could feel the tears swelling up to the brim of her eyes. It was a wonder she wasn't breaking down like a little baby.

The woman nodded slowly, as she took in that information. It was pretty heavy business, after all, and it deserved the most proper attention one could give. So, she paused a moment, a full minute Allison guessed, as the boys ran by once more, running for the swings. They took turns pushing each other back and forth on the smallest swings for a count of seven, before the woman spoke up again. "You're worried he's going to hurt him again." Allison nodded in confirmation. "Did he apologize?" the woman asked.

Allison shrugged, scrunching her face horribly. "I didn't really give him the chance to…"

"Well, go back in a few weeks. See if he apologizes. Then, go from there," the woman advised. "After all, everyone deserves a second chance, right?" She grinned sheepishly again, as if she were waiting for Allison to tell her whether or not she was correct, as if she could only ever make shy and awkward gestures. "Lewis has given me enough second chances anyway. I mess everything up so often… But he's good to me. Keeps me in line. Oh, Lewis is my husband by the way."

Allison merely shrugged, not too sure with herself. She wasn't positive that this woman's advice was the best thing in the world, but it was the only advice she had been offered thus far. So, she didn't really have a choice but to accept it, did she? She smiled hesitantly, glancing over at the boys who had now taken to playing with the rocks, letting out a small, breathy laugh. "What did you say your name was again?"

The woman hit herself on the forehead, (a bit too hard, Allison thought, considering the loud smacking sound she heard when she did it) chuckling nervously. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm such an idiot. I forgot to tell you my name. Ugh, Lewis is right. I really would be completely lost without him helping me…" She shook her head, laughing like it was all some big joke, like Allison couldn't read between lines. "Anyway, my name is Linda." She gave her a tight lipped smile, a forced gesture if Allison had ever seen one, and held her hand out.

Allison smiled back as nicely as she could manage, deciding it would be best if she didn't call the woman, Linda, out on her husband's behavior. It would just make it worse, after all. "Allison," she said, kindly shaking her hand.

"Nice to meet you," Linda said, as they shook hands. When they withdrew from each other's touch, she caught a glimpse of her watch and suddenly turned rather frantic. "Oh, dear! Is that the time? Lewis will be home from work any minute!" She gave Allison another one of those awkward, sheepish grins. "I'm sorry, Ally. I hate to just vent and run, but I have to go. Lewis likes dinner to be ready when he gets home. He's a police officer, you see. So, it's really hard work, and he has to relax when he gets home. So, I have to go now."

Allison didn't comment on the way her ramblings sounded much harsher than she probably meant them to be. Or the fact that she had called her Ally, when she preferred her full name. (Allison didn't want to upset her and send her off muttering any more apologies than she was already spewing.) She didn't comment on the fact that her husband sounded like quite the prick (considering her own marital issues she couldn't really judge). And she definitely didn't comment on the fact that it felt as though Linda were asking for her permission to leave.

"It's alright," Allison promised. "Just go do what you have to do. Maybe we'll meet again someday."

Linda let out a laugh, and for the first time through out their entire interaction Allison thought it sounded pretty genuine. "Wouldn't that be splendid? Who knows. Maybe our boys might end up in the same school one day." She turned, calling to her son. "Leo! Time to go, honey!"

"Leo," Allison mused, as Linda's son waved goodbye to Mick and ran over. "That's a lovely name."

"Oh, thank you," Linda smiled, helping her son put his backpack on. "Lewis picked it out."

Allison nodded, watching them walk to their car for a moment, before working up the nerve to ask something. "Linda?"

The other woman looked back over from her vehicle, peering over her doorframe as she buckled Leo into his car seat. She made a soft hum in response.

Allison pursed her lips nervously. "Uh, Lewis," she started awkwardly. "Your husband. Does he…I mean, has he ever hurt Leo, too?"

Linda stood up a bit too quickly, looking stunned by the question and maybe even a little afraid. Allison expected her to get offended, maybe shout or even storm off in a huff. Instead, she just flashed another one of those shy smiles. "No." And from the tightness in her voice, Allison could tell it was a lie. "I'll see you around."

She got in her car and drove away, leaving Allison sitting on the park bench, her heart pounding in her chest, Mick playing quietly by himself in the sandbox, oblivious to all the hideous things going on around him.

So sorry for the long wait! I've been super busy with school and helping my mom move. There just hasn't been enough time to write a whole lot. But better late than never right? I'll try to have the next update up sooner if I can. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!